Serum inhibin A concentration in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome and the correlation to ethnicity, androgens and insulin resistance

Segal, Shimon; Elmadjian, Malvina; Takeshige, Takeko; Karp, Steven; Mercado, Ray; Rivnay, Benjamin

doi:10.1016/j.rbmo.2010.02.006

« Previous Next »Reproductive BioMedicine Online
Volume 20, Issue 5 , Pages 675-680, May 2010

Serum inhibin A concentration in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome and the correlation to ethnicity, androgens and insulin resistance

Shimon Segal
- Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Room 5–18, Lincoln Medical Center, 234–149th Street, Bronx, NY 10451, USA
- Repromedix Corporation, Woburn, MA, USA
- Corresponding author.
Malvina Elmadjian
- Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Room 5–18, Lincoln Medical Center, 234–149th Street, Bronx, NY 10451, USA
Takeko Takeshige
- Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Room 5–18, Lincoln Medical Center, 234–149th Street, Bronx, NY 10451, USA
Steven Karp
- Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Room 5–18, Lincoln Medical Center, 234–149th Street, Bronx, NY 10451, USA
Ray Mercado
- Division of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Room 5–18, Lincoln Medical Center, 234–149th Street, Bronx, NY 10451, USA
Benjamin Rivnay
- Weill Medical College of Cornell University, NY, USA

Received 1 June 2009; received in revised form 19 November 2009; accepted 15 January 2010. published online 15 March 2010.

Declaration: The authors report no financial or commercial conflicts of interest.

Abstract

A prospective case-series in an academic hospital clinic was performed to determine whether there is a relationship between polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and ethnicity. Also, serum inhibin A concentrations were compared between PCOS and normal-ovulatory women. The possibility of a correlation between inhibin A, androgens and insulin resistance in PCOS women was evaluated. Serum inhibin A concentrations were measured in anovulatory PCOS patients (n=32) and in control women of reproductive age (n=16). Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U-test. Serum concentrations of inhibin A, follicle-stimulating hormone, LH, prolactin, thyroid-stimulating hormone, fasting glucose, insulin, testosterone, 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17-OHP) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) were measured. Inhibin A concentrations were significantly lower (4.5±4.8pg/ml) when compared with the control group (13.2±14.4pg/ml; P=0.003) and were not significantly different between Hispanic and Caucasian women diagnosed with PCOS. There was no correlation between inhibin A concentrations and insulin, testosterone, free testosterone, 17-OHP, or DHEAS concentrations. In PCOS women, inhibin A concentrations are similar between Hispanic and Caucasian women; however, women with PCOS, regardless of ethnicity, have a lower inhibin A concentration compared with normal-ovulatory women. No correlation was observed between inhibin A androgens and insulin resistance in women diagnosed with PCOS.

Keywords: Caucasian, ethnicity, Hispanic, inhibin A, polycystic ovarian syndrome

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Dr Segal graduated from the Faculty of General Medicine, Gr T Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Iasi, Romania and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Hillel Yaffe Hospital, Israel and Mc Master University, Canada. He is currently in the Division of Reproductive Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Lincoln Medical Center, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, his special interest include reproductive medicine, infertility, IVF, polycystic ovarian syndrome, ovulation disorders, menopause and osteopororosis.